Sentence Correction

122. As a result of the continuing decline in the birth rate, less people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than did in the 1960's and 1970's, a twenty year period during which people born after the war swelled the ranks of workers.
(A) less people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than
(B) less people will be entering the labor force in the 1980's as
(C) fewer people will enter the labor force in the 1980's as
(D) fewer people will be entering the labor force in the 1980's as
(E) fewer people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than

ashg84 wrote:122. As a result of the continuing decline in the birth rate, less people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than did in the 1960's and 1970's, a twenty year period during which people born after the war swelled the ranks of workers.
(A) less people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than
(B) less people will be entering the labor force in the 1980's as
(C) fewer people will enter the labor force in the 1980's as
(D) fewer people will be entering the labor force in the 1980's as
(E) fewer people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than

less is uncountable, fewer is countable:
IMO E should be correct, than is required as we are comparing

Ans: E

garima99 wrote:

ashg84 wrote:122. As a result of the continuing decline in the birth rate, less people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than did in the 1960's and 1970's, a twenty year period during which people born after the war swelled the ranks of workers.
(A) less people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than
(B) less people will be entering the labor force in the 1980's as
(C) fewer people will enter the labor force in the 1980's as
(D) fewer people will be entering the labor force in the 1980's as
(E) fewer people will enter the labor force in the 1980's than

less is uncountable, fewer is countable:
IMO E should be correct, than is required as we are comparing

Can you please explain why "as" can not be used for comparison. Also what is difference between the usage of As & than.

E is right.

You can't use "as" because we are comparing.

Example: We had 10 more pies than the clowns.

Since people are "countable", fewer is the correct usage. A, B eliminated.
Use of "as" is incorrect because we are comparing. C, D also eliminated.
E is correct, "than" is required.